Synergizing S&T with Judicial processes

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Ocean Development, Shri Kapil Sibal today announced initiatives to synergize S&T with judicial processes at a press conference in New Delhi.

Initiated projects are as follows:

Implementing Agency: National Judicial Academy, Bhopal

Objective: Focus on Information Technology, DNA finger printing & evidence, Computer forensic methods, Cyber forensic etc

Preparation of plans (curricula) by the representative of State Judicial Academies, for conducting the training programme in the respective stated judicial academies in future

The training programme was conducted successfully in March 2006. Twenty four participants representing almost all the State Judicial Academies of India participated and developed six training programmes.

2. Normative Data for Brain Electrical Activation Profiling

Implementing Agency: Forensics Science Laboratory Gandhi Nagar,Gujarat

Objective: To conduct experiments and studies for brain fingerprint profiling of individuals in order to establish the validity of this technique and standardize it as an acceptable form of opinion evidence in the court of law.

Scope: To design and apply simulated conditions in which a group of normal volunteers will have privileged information acquired experientially compared to a group of volunteers who will have access to the same information conceptually. To design different domains of information such as meeting a person, visiting a place, carrying out different acts, planning a certain action, etc. To prepare auditory and visual probes depicting the above units of information. To record the brain electrical activation in the two groups of volunteers during the presentation of auditory and visual probes. To compare the two groups statistically on various measures of brain electrical activation profiles.

3. Tamperproof & Secure Courtroom Digital Recording & Video Conferencing System.

Implementers: CDAC-Noida, Directorate of Forensics Science-New Delhi & Directorate of Forensics Science-Gandhi Nagar. Objective: A tamperproof, secure & integrated Courtroom Recording system for digitally recording and storing the courtroom proceedings and hearings along with the retrieval and authentication system. A videoconferencing system of a court room, Forensic lab, police station & jail also been envisaged.

Scope: Configure a system comprising of Digital Cameras, microphones, switches, conferencing equipments and data acquisition system.

Installation of the configured system including servers to process the info.

Development of software for data authentication using secure encryption method.

To provide video conferencing facility among Courtroom and 4 other locations Jail, evidence room at court, FSL and police station.

Proposed Phases:

• Phase I Single courtroom digital video recording setup
• Phase II Full Software Features in one courtroom such as quality recording & play back, encryption of stored data, search and access of recordings by authorized and video conferencing
• Phase III: Addition of similar setup in 2 more courts with video conferencing in one court room

4. Digital Pen & Paper Technology for capturing the information at police station

Implementing Agency: Mumbai Police & M/s. Impact Systems Pvt.Ltd., Pune

Objective: The information that is created at Police station through integrated investigation Forms (IIFs) is to be captured through Digital Pen to facilitate its storage and tamperproof handling in a digital format, rapid transmission to supervisory officers and swift retrieval of this information based on key words.

Scope: The scope is to develop a Digital Pen and Paper Technology to capture information during criminal investigation. The base forms will be the eleven Integrated Investigation Forms, standardized by the National Crime Records Bureau and adopted by Maharashtra Police.

PHASE 1:

• To deploy the solution at 3 police stations namely, Gamdevi, Malabar Hill, L.T. Marg
• Use eleven A4 size Forms (1 Data summary sheet + 10 existing FIR pages for image capture) at the Police stations
• Ensure connectivity within these three stations
• Create a Single repository for the information base (Initially One police station will act as a Repository)

PHASE 2

• To add 3 more police stations with 2 pens per police stations (total 6 pens)
• Add eleven A4 size (1 Data sheet + 10 existing FIR pages) new forms for the use

5. Crime Scene Recording System Implementing

Agency: M/s. Encore Software Ltd, Bangalore and Bangalore Police Objective: A cost-effective and versatile system using a portable computing device for tamper-proof acquisition, storage, and retrieval of Crime Scene Data for subsequent use in Judicial processes.

Scope: The proposed system will handle various types of crimes. It will be a server-client based application, with Mobilis as the client or front-end device, which will have the capability to record the information in the form of text, audio, photo and video media. All this different information will be linked to the specific crime, and thus making it easy to retrieve all the information relating to a specific crime easily. The server-end application will be used to store this information. The Mobilis is enabled with GPRS and WiFi connectivity, which will be used to connect to the server remotely whenever required.

Proposed Phases:

• PHASE 1: Capture/Acquisition of Crime-Scene Data – Murder/Homicidal Cases.
• PHASE 2: Capture/Acquisition of Crime-Scene Data – Theft & Burglary Cases.
• PHASE 3- Capture/Acquisition of Crime Scene Data – Other Types of Crimes

At the instance of Shri Sibal this important area has been identified by TIFAC for intervention. TIFAC Governing Council included it under the sector on Targeted Programmes in the Umbrella Scheme for Technology Vision 2020.

Three kinds of interventions were envisaged to achieve the objective of synergizing S&T with judicial processes so as to enhance the speed and degree of fair dispensation of justice:

S&T inputs on points of law, or as required in the context of issues that are inherently science-based. For example, the use of DNA or brain fingerprinting as an investigative technique; or the use of advanced information technology with regard to cyber-forensics.

Technology solutions (particularly ICT solutions) that would improve judicial processes. Different aspects of the processes may be addressed; for example, efficiency, transparency, robustness / reliability or equity.

Creating interfaces or mechanisms for fostering greater interaction and engagement between the different communities: S&T professionals, investigative agencies; lawyers; and the judiciary. These may include interventions for training or capacity building.

All of these interventions would require active collaboration between different stakeholders – the judiciary, investigating agencies and S&T organizations.

The identified activities under this sector include technology development & demonstration projects, focused studies, and training; in areas such as Forensic Sciences and Information & Communication Technology (ICT) related to judicial processes etc.

An Apex Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Fali S Nariman, Senior Advocate has been constituted by TIFAC to steer and guide the programme. The committee reviews the proposals and recommends projects to TIFAC for implementation.

Source : Press Information Bureau
Date : April 17, 2006